Transcript Document

Translating knowledge out of the classroom:
The highs and lows of Wikipedia as a
platform for student writing
Paula Marentette
with Juliet Brown, Anastasia
Evarts, Erika Heiberg, Alanna
Lindsay, Alison Owens, Nadia
Rebkowich, Lianne Theelen
Things we learned about Wiki
• NPOV: fair and without bias
• verifiability: direct support in stated sources
We encountered problems with:
• NOR: use of material—such as facts,
allegations, and ideas—for which no reliable,
published sources exist”
1. Primary & secondary sources
• NOR: use of material—such as facts,
allegations, and ideas—for which no reliable,
published sources exist”
Students were discouraged from using peerreviewed journal articles:
“Wikipedia articles usually rely on material from
reliable secondary sources”
2. synthesis
• NOR: use of material—such as facts,
allegations, and ideas—for which no reliable,
published sources exist”
students were discouraged from citing multiple
sources in one sentence:
SYNTH: combination of material from “multiple
sources to reach or imply a conclusion not
explicitly stated by any of the sources”
Recognition – Did You Know?
Recognition: Good Article
Wiki Criteria:
1. It is reasonably well-written.
2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.
3. It is broad in its coverage.
4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.
5. It is stable
6. It is illustrated by images, where possible.
Good Article
Advice
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work in teams for support
do this in a small class
get help with editing early
waiting for feedback is a problem
sort out the citation/reference style!!!!
“Take the advice of editors seriously. Swallow
your pride and your pithy comments.”
Thanks
• APS Wiki Portal (thanks Rosta!)
• Wikipedia Canada Education Program
(Jonathan)
• online ambassadors (Neelix, Nikimaria)
• volunteer wiki editors (Mr. Stradivarius,
MathewTownsend, MasterOfHisOwnDomain)